Storage locker in particular for sports facilities, set of lockers, row of lockers and changing-room equipped with such lockers

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a storage locker for changing-rooms in sports facilities, for example. The locker comprises a semi-cylindrical chamber (1) in which is mounted a semi-cylindrical compartment (2) having a circular floor (4) and ceiling (5). The compartment (2) is mounted for rotation coaxially within the chamber (1) between a closed position in which the compartment (2) is outside the chamber (1) and an open position in which it is disposed therein. The compartment is biased towards the open position and away from the closed position. The lockers are drained and the compartment (2) stacked vertically in double rows with a common carcase providing the walls of the chambers (1). The lockers have electromagnetic locks and a computer providing a central supervisory and surveillance system providing warnings in response to alarm signals generated in response to abuse of the locks. 
     The invention is especially applicable to swimming-pool changing-rooms.

This invention relates to a storage locker, particularly for use insports facilities comprising a chamber of substantially semi-cylindricalshape and within which is disposed for coaxial rotation a compartmentalso of substantially semi-cylindrical shape and including a floor andceiling of substantially circular shape.

Such a locker is described in particular in U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,429 andin French patent number 944 823.

When one tries to find a locker of this kind which is unoccupied, thereare some difficulties, since the moveable compartment may happen to bein the closed position, but unlocked, so that one thinks that the lockeris not available, although it is.

Moreover, it is advantageous to provide a device which enables the userto be warned that he has not properly closed his locker.

The present invention has an object a storage locker of the kindreferred to above which enables the disadvantages described above to beavoided. It is particularly notable in that the said compartment isprovided with a return device towards the open position and in that itcomprises a locking device for the compartment comprising an elasticelement, such as a spring, tending to urge the compartment away when itis in the closed position.

Because of the return device towards the open position, when the lockeris not in use, the moveable compartment is automatically disposed in theopen position, which enables the user to spot very quickly the availablelockers. Moreover, the automatic placing of the compartments in the openposition also facilitates the operation of cleaning.

Because the locking device includes an elastic element which urges thecompartment away from the closed position, it is automatically sent tothe open position; furthermore, this also enables the user to be warnedthat he has not properly closed his locker, since it will be openedfully and automatically. Advantageously, in this case, the set ofchambers of a double row form a single carcase.

Another object of the invention is a changing-room comprising aplurality of rows of lockers, wherein said locking means of said lockeris electrically actuable, and alarm means for generating an alarm signalin response to abuse of said locker, and surveillance means electricallyconnected to said locking means of said locker and comprising dataprocessing means responsive to said alarm signals. This arrangementenables the whole changing-room to be surveilled from a central station,in which is located the data processing means that comprises a centralcomputer and addressing means for addressing respective locking means,said locking means including respective micro-controllers forsupervising the operation of said locking means.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description of embodiments thereof, given by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a set of lockers in accordance with anembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view on the line II--II of FIG. 1,the lockers being closed,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but with the lockers open,

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a detail of one of the lockers,showing a locking device,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the set of lockers in FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a double row of lockers,

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data processor, and

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an electronic apparatus for a lock.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 show a set of lockers in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

Each locker comprises a fixed chamber 1 whose shape is generallysemi-cylinder and a compartment 2 which is also generallysemi-cylindrical in shape and which is mounted for rotation coaxiallywithin the chamber 1, that is to say the vertical axis 3 of thesemi-cylinder forming the chamber is identical with the axis of thesemi-cylinder of the compartment and forms the axis of rotation of thecompartment. The diameter of the semi-cylinder forming the compartmentis slightly less than the diameter of the chamber and the compartmentalso comprises a floor 4 and a ceiling 5 which are substantiallyinscribed on a circle centered on the axis 3. The compartment 2 ismoveable between two positions, an open position in which thecompartment 2 is accommodated within the chamber 1 and a closed positionwhich is obtained by rotation through half a turn from the open positionand in which the semi-cylindrical wall 6 of the compartment 2 isdisposed outside the chamber 1 and facing towards the chamber so as toproduce a substantially cylindrical volume. FIG. 1 shows an open lockerbelow at the left and a closed locker below at the right, the upperlocker being shown without its compartment.

To maintain the locker in its open position when it is not locked shut,a return member is provided to return the compartment in the directionof rotation indicated by the arrow 7 in FIG. 1; in the embodimentillustrated, the return member comprises a thrust bearing 8, shown inFIG. 1, and a spiral spring (not shown). Advantageously, the lockingmechanism of each locker also comprises an elastic member such as aspring which tends to push the compartment away from the closedposition. In the lock 9 shown in FIG. 4, the elastic member comprises afinger 11 pivoting about an axis 12 and subjected to the thrust of aspring 13. In this way, the user will immediately notice if he hasfailed to lock his locker, since it will immediately revert to the openposition, and this is a first precaution against theft.

To facilitate cleaning and avoid accumulation of dirt in thecompartment, the floor 4 is slightly inclined so as to converge towardsthe middle of the semi-cylindrical wall 6 and an orifice is provided atthis point to drain accumulated water, as shown by the arrow 15 in FIGS.2 and 3.

Similarly, the floor 16 of the chamber 1 is inclined so as to convergeinwards, that is to say towards the middle of thee semi-cylindrical wall17 of the chamber so as to facilitate draining as indicated by the arrow18.

The compartment 2 which forms the locker itself is provided withfeatures for receiving various objects which may be placed in thelocker; these features may include a shelf for shoes, a shelf for ahelmet, clothes-hooks or coat-hangers, a bag for receiving odd items anda strap which holds the garments in place within the compartment.

As a function of the intended use, superimposed sets of lockers may beprovided, comprising a common chamber having a plurality of superimposedcompartments. Thus, FIGS. 2 and 3 show on the left a stack of threecompartments and on the right a stack of two compartments, the stacksbeing disposed in respective chambers of the same height. In this case,it is preferred to provide a chamber floor 16 for each compartment andthe base 19 of the common chamber is inclined outwards so as to drainwater evacuated by the drain holes of the chamber floors 16 asillustrated by the arrow 21. To obtain complete protection of theobjects or clothing placed in the lockers, a cover 22 is provided foreach chamber, or generally circular shape and inclined inwards, wateraccumulating therein draining through an orifice at its inner side asindicated by the arrow 23. As shown more particularly in FIGS. 2-3, thechamber floors 16 and the cover 22 project behind the compartment 1 soas to avoid water which drains at the rear of the floors 16 and cover 23penetrating into the compartments 1.

The chamber 1 is preferably made of cast concrete to give goodresistance to vandalism, the concrete being varnished to facilitatecleaning. The compartment is preferably made of metal (ribbed castaluminum) or synthetic material such as polyethylene produced byroto-moulding. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, a common chamber may housetwo lockers whose usable height is 1 meter or three lockers whose usableheight is 65 cm. The outer face of the compartments is advantageouslyribbed so as to reduce the risk of graffiti inscriptions orbill-sticking.

As shown more particularly in FIGS. 1 and 6, this embodiment of theinvention enables a double row of lockers to be provided, opening onopposite sides of the double row, the space occupied being reduced bythe two rows overlapping with the lockers 24 of the first row staggeredrelative to the lockers 25 of the second, the axes of the respectiverows of lockers being disposed on opposite sides of the center-line ofthe double row 27. Thus, for example, the distance between the axes ofthe two rows of lockers 24 and 25 may be reduced to less than 40 cm, sothat the overall width of the double row of lockers may be reduced toless than 80 cm, whereas each locker presents a usable volume extendingover a cylinder of 40 cm diameter. This reduction in the widths of thedouble rows of lockers is additional to the reduction in the width ofthe alley between two double rows. In fact, due to the structure of thelockers in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the lockersoccupy the same space when open as shut and this enables a substantialreduction in the width of the alley ways; thus, for example, in the caseof a swimming-pool changing-room, this reduction is of the order of 25%,the width of the alley being reduced from more than 1 meter to less than80 cm.

In the case of a double row of lockers as shown in FIG. 6, the set ofchambers is formed by a single carcase 28 which is advantageously madeof concrete; this simplifies the building of the changing-roomsubstantially since this single carcase may be cast in a singleoperation.

According to another feature of this embodiment of the invention, inparticular for a changing-room including several rows of lockers, eachlocker has an electro-mechanical lock with an electronic control and thewhole set of locks is connected to a data processor which treats thewhole set of locks; in particular, each lock may include a devicegenerating an alarm signal actuated if an attempt is made to force thelock of the locker. This alarm signal is transmitted to a centralstation which is immediately alerted and can take necessary measures.This enables more complete surveillance than by security rounds withreduced personnel.

In an embodiment of the invention, the electromagnetic locks areunlocked by introducing a "key" bearing a code which is attributed bythe data processor at the moment when the entrance fee is paid. This keymay, for example, comprise a perforate card which is read by an opticalreader in the lock. Alternatively other devices for unlocking may beprovided such as a set of push-buttons next to each lock on which theparticular code of the lock is composed.

Besides the surveillance and transmission of an alarm in the ease ofvandalism, the data processor may supervise the usage of the lockers, inparticular, the data processor may continuously interrogate the lockersone after the other so as to determine which are available and attributethem to users paying their entrance fee. The alarm signal may betriggered by the introduction of the wrong key, mechanical forcing ofthe locker, or cutting off the electrical supply to a lock, for example.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the data processor supervisinga changing-room having lockers, in accordance with the invention.

The complete data processor comprises a central supervisory computerhaving a memory of 256 kilo-octets and a disc of 10 mega-octets,together with an interface. These may be a micro-computer and aninterface commercially available under the code RS232C. Themicro-computer is associated with an encoder, sensors included in eachof the electromagnetic locks and a central distributor which distributesmessages to and from all the locks, which are grouped by alleys orsub-groups and which dialogues with the micro-computer. A basic softwareprogram supervises the locks and an adapted program enables theapplication of the first program to the characteristics of eachchanging-room and enables the supervision of the set of lockers by themicro-computer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the central distributor referred to above;it comprises essentially the interface 31 mentioned above which isconnected to the micro-computer (not shown), a supply unit 32 whichcomprises protection devices and the supply transformers and whichsupplies the different locks through a line 33 to which are connectedsupply units 34 each supplying two alleys 35 and 36 lockers, and asupervision apparatus 37 which supervises the exchanges between themicro-computer and a set of eight alleys in groups of two; thesupervision unit 37 ay comprise an extension 38 enabling it to superviseeight other alleys. An extension apparatus 39 could also be provided forconnection with a second distributor.

FIG. 8 shows the electrical circuit of a lock controlling the unlockingof a locker. The circuit comprises essentially a micro-controller 41with a memory 42 and an alley interface 43. A decoder circuit fordecoding the electronic kay controlling the lock is formed in thisexample by four photo-transistors 44, and is connected to themicro-controller 41 which also controls an electro-magnet 45 controllingthe lock, for example through a Darlington transistor 46. The whole lockis supplied by a supply unit 47 including the protection devices.

The micro-controller performs the surveillance of all the locks, takingthe initiative to transmit a message of "n" octets (4 octets in theexample illustrated) during switching on, after a response from aperipheral or absence of response within a given time period. Inresponse to this interrogation message, the micro-controller mustreceive a message of the same format corresponding either to a normalresponse or to the alarm message referred to above which has interruptedthe normal procedure of interrogation and response. The centraldistributor analyses the first octet coming from the micro-controllerand directs this message to one of the alleys after suppressing thisfirst octet, if required, in the case where the normal interrogationprocedure is to continue.

If a signal is detected on an alarm bus either during or just beforereading the first octet, the micro-controller message is blocked. Thecentral distributor then examines the alleys and finds those whose alarmbus has been actuated, the "alarm-response" bus is actuated and the lockconcerned can send its alarm message either immediately or afterscanning in the alley by the central distributor. The alarm messagesupplied by the lock is shaped by the central distributor and repeatedto the micro-controller which can then interrogate the lock involved orcontinue scanning. In any case, the micro-controller defines the rythmof the messages and systematically receives a message in response toeach message transmitted.

The supervision apparatus 37 of the central distributor processes orproduces the first octets of the messages and distributes the periodicmessages to the alleys while processing directly the alarminterruptions; the supply circuits 34 also have the role ofcommunication interface with the corresponding alleys 35 and 36.

The locks are grouped by alley, the maximum number of locks per alleybeing 128; each alley has a specific supply and communication cablewhich comes from one of the halves of the supply and interface circuit34.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 5, the locks of each locker aredisposed in a vertical section upright forming a facing and which may bemade of drawn aluminium for example and which is disposed on the facadeof the modular concrete elements. The section advantageously forms acover in which are accommodated the lock of each locker with its supply,if required, and an emergency unlocking device and which bears thereference numbers of the lockers.

This structure not only enables the possible alarms to be scannedrapidly, but also enables complete isolation of an alley in the case ofa serious breakdown, without affecting the other alleys. The alley cablemay have a branching connector for four neightbouring lockers, forexample.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention illustratedin the drawings enables changing-rooms to be produced in a greatlyreduced space with lockers which can readily be cleaned in good hygienicconditions; in particular, due to the various arrangements for drainingaccumulated water out of the lockers, and the shape of the lockers, dirtwill not tend to accumulate; the locerks are cleaned when open, forexample using a high pressure water jet and the inner wall of thechamber can be cleaned through the space left in the open positionbetween the compartment and the chamber. Also the use of centralcomputer surveillance enables a significant reduction in thesurveillance personnel while improving the security of the installation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage locker, especially for sportsfacilities comprising a chamber of substantially semi-cylindrical shapeand within which is disposed for coaxial rotation a compartment also ofsubstantially semi-cylindrical shape, said compartment having a floorand a ceiling of substantially circular shape centered on an axis ofrotation of said compartment, said compartment being movable between andopen position in which it is disposed within said chamber and a closedposition in which it is disposed outside the chamber and completes thevolume thereof, characterized in that said compartment is provided witha locking device and return device means for biasing said compartment torotate towards the open position whenever said locking device is notlatchingly engaged with said compartment in said closed position.
 2. Astorage locker as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the chamber(1) comprises a lower wall (16) which is inclined and provided with atleast one drain orifice and in that the floor (4) of the compartment (2)is inclined and is provided with at least one drain orifice.
 3. A set ofstorage lockers as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that itcomprises a single chamber (1) in which are superimposed a plurality ofcompartments.
 4. A row of lockers or of sets of lockers as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the lockers or sets of lockers aredisposed in alternating manner staggered on opposite sides of the axisof the said row.
 5. A row of lockers or of sets of lockers as claimed inclaim 4, characterized in that said generally vertical parts of saidchamber walls comprise a common carcase.
 6. A changing-room comprising aplurality of rows of lockers as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lockingdevice of each locker is electrically actuateable, and alarm means forgenerating an alarm signal in response to abuse of said locker, andsurveillance means electrically connected to said locking device of eachlocker and comprising data processing means responsive to said alarm. 7.A changing-room as claimed in claim 6, wherein said data processingmeans comprises a central computer and addressing means for addressingrespective locking devices, said locking devices including respectivemicrocontrollers for supervising the operation of said locking devices.8. A set of storage lockers as claimed in claim 2, characterized in thatit comprises a single chamber (1) in which are superimposed a pluralityof compartments.
 9. A row of lockers or of sets of lockers as claimed inclaim 2, characterized in that the lockers or sets of lockers aredisposed in alternating manner staggered on opposite sides of the axisof said row.
 10. A row of lockers or of sets of lockers as claimed inclaim 3, characterized in that the lockers or set of lockers aredisposed in alternating manner staggered on opposite sides of the axisof said row.
 11. A changing-room comprising a plurality of rows oflockers as claimed in claim 5, wherein said locking device of eachlocker is electrically actuateable, and alarm means for generating analarm signal in response to abuse of said locker, and surveillance meanselectrically connected to said locking device of each locker andcomprising data processing means responsive to said alarm.
 12. Achanging-room as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data processing meanscomprises a central computer and addressing means for addressingrespective locking devices, said locking devices including respectivemicro-controllers for supervising the operation of said locking devices.